The annual — sometimes biannual — performance by Raiford Rogers Modern Ballet has come to feel like a special L.A. summer tradition, akin to s’mores around a beach fire pit or music at the Hollywood Bowl amphitheater. This year, that single performance at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex at Cal State L.A. (thank you, Wendy …
Tag: Los Angeles
Review: Barak Ballet New Repertory
The opening tableaux of “Pretty, Peculiar Things” is an announcement that Melissa Barak has good things in store. Unexpected things, like the backward toss of a ballerina. Subtle humor. And a lively stage atmosphere overflowing with a deep kinetic intelligence of what movement can express. Barak keeps it fresh. She’s a dance-maker’s dance-maker. Here’s the …
A Breakthrough Season
The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills announced this week that its 2019-2020 dance season will be stocked with Los Angeles-based dance companies--only. It is, I believe, the first time a Los Angeles theater presenter has programmed a complete dance season just with L.A.-based companies. Quite a milestone. Artistic director Paul …
3 Questions: Raiford Rogers
Raiford Rogers Modern Ballet's last local concert was two years ago, when the company presented the debut of "Still Life," a stirring, three-movement work Rogers choreographed to an orchestral score by Zbynek Mateju. The Czech composer had proposed a collaboration with Rogers via email, and the two worked for more than a year without having …

Home Grown @ Bootleg: A Leg up for Los Angeles Dance
A pilot program with exciting potential to promote local dance by giving companies more performing opportunities--which is what Los Angeles dancers say need and want--debuts in February. It is called Home Grown @ Bootleg and the first weekend of concerts will feature Antics, which under the direction of Amy “Catfox” Campion combines street dance with …
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